Humidity regulator



sept. 22, 1925.

W. H. CARRIER 4Huunn'w REGULATOR original piled Auge, 190e 2 Sheets-Sheet;

O Humm nrY.

m w w sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,785

W. M.v CARRIER HUMIDITY REGULATOR original Find 1mm. e, 1908 2 shammi-Sh'eet 2' ATTO/P/VEY.

Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE; i

WILLIS H. CARRIER, F ESSEX FELLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0* BUFFALO FORGE COMZPNY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

EUMIIDITY REGULATOR.

Original application led August 6, 1908, Serial No. 447,240. Divided and this application le March 8,

1922. Serial NQ. 542,028.

To oZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS l-l. CARRIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Essex Fells, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,- have invented a new and useful Improvement in Humidity Regulators, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to automatic regulating devices for controlling the humidity and temperature of air in textile mills and other places where definite conditions of humidity are essential or desirable, this application being a division of my applicationrfor lUnited States Letters Patent, Serial No.

5 447,240, filed August 6, 1908.

One object ofgthe invention is to produce an elicient and practical instrument in which the pressure of the vapor generated by a volatile li uid is made use of for controlling the humidity of the air, and particularly to construct the regulating instrument so that the vapor pressures of two thermoresponsive elements which are independently' aid'eoted by temperature changes, act in opposition to each other on, the valve or device which controls the humidity. @ther objects ot the invention are to make the instrument-adjustable for obtaining the didere'nt desired hygrometric conditions of the air; also to provide an instrument adapted to be readily adjusted to give diii'erent desired humidities in accordance with one or another predetermined difl'erence between the wet and dry bulb temperatures of the air affecting the thermoresponsive elements of the instrument; and also to improve regulating instruments of the character mentioned in the respects hereinafter describedy and set forth in the claims. f

ln the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a iront elevation or' a humidity and temperature regulating device embodying the invention, as particularly claimed in my said original application No. 447,240, the M5 cover for the support being removed. y

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a modification which forms the subject-matter claimed in this divisional application.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3,

im. Fig. 2. Fig. 4C is a similar view on line #i4-i Fig. 2.

Referring first to the instrument shown in llig. l, A. and B represent two generator tubes or receptacles each partly llled with some suitable volatile liquid whose vapor pressure varies readily in response to changes of temperature. Sulfur dioxide is preferably used as it has an ideal pressure temperature relation for controlling humidity at variable temperatures. As the generator tubes are only partially filled with the liquid, each has an evaporating and a condensing surface, so that any change in temperature affecting the tube will produce an immediate corresponding change in the vapor pressure in thetube. The tubes, can, if desired, be corrugated or ribbed for enlarging' their radiating surfaces to increase the rapidity of heat exchange and render them more sensitive. I

Means are provided for enveloping one of the generator tubes with evaporating moisture so that the temperature oi this tube always corresponds to that of the wet bulb thermometer and is lower than the temperature of the other tube B, which causes (liderential pressures in the vapor generated in the tubes. ln the construction shown, thel tube A is covered by a wick C which dips into a well c to which water` is supplied for wetting the wick by an inverted receptacle c' whose discharge opening depends into the well so as to maintain the water at a constant' level therein in a wel] known manner. Any other suitable means Jfor causing the temperature of the generator' tube A to correspond to that of the wet bulb thermometer could be employed.

l) and E represent two diaphragme or motors ozt any suitable construction which are connected by pipes or passages d and e respectively, with the generating tubes t and B so that the diaphragms or motors will be subject to therespective pressures of the vapor generated in the tubes A and lB to which they are connected. The motors D and E are arranged to operate in opposition to each other on a lever or device in such manner that unless the diiierent-ial pressures of the motors on the lever or device bearl a predetermined relation, the lever or device 'will be moved in one or 'another direction,

depending upon whetherthe ratio of pressures increases or decreases. The lever or device4 controls means for regulating the humidity ot air, and adjusting means are preferably provided for changing the ratio of the pressures ofthe motors on the lever or device Jfor producing different regulating e'ffects. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the movable parts ofthe motors D and E bear against opposite sides ot a lever F at different distances from its fulcrum, and a fulcrum block f for the lever is employed which is slidably mounted'bn a stationary supporting bar f below the lever and is provided wlth a set screw f2 for securing it in `different positions on the bar. A weighted lever Gis connected to the; regulating lever to counterbalance the weight thereof. j

H represents a valve of ordinary construction actuated by the regulating lever for ad Y a given percentage of humidity for all temperatures between 50 degrees and 100 degrees F. so that a desired percentage ofhumidity can be secured by adjusting' thel fulcrum block f to give the necessary ratio between the pressures of the motors D and E acting on the lever, and no adjustment is required for variations in temperature between 50 'degrees and ,100 degrees. `I he lever F is'preferably graduated and provided With' charac-ters indicating different percentages of humidity, and to obtain any desired percentage of humidity within the range of the instrument it is only necessary to set the fulcrurn block opposite to the mark on the lever indicating this percentage'.- No other adjustment of the instrument is required.

I represents a thermostat with which the instrument is preferably equipped for controllingthe temperature of the air in cold weather. It consists of a diaphragm or motor i connected by a pipe or passage 'i' to -the generator tube B and operated by thevapor pressure produced therein, asprmg 2 which opposes the pressure of the motor I, and a valve i3V which'is actuated by the Inotor and controls the' fion ot compressed air to and from means '(not shown) for governing the temperature. if is an adjusting screw by which the tension of the spring- 2y can be changed for maintaining a desired temperature. The instrument can be provided wth a thermostat or not, as desired, and a thermostat of any suitable construction1 operated by the vapor pressure can be use instrument could, however, be4 supported an'd protected in any other desired way.

-With the vapor pressure acting diii'erentially on the regulating device-as above described, the instrument is adapted for maintaining a constantrelative humidity of the air notwithstanding tluctations in the temperature thereof.

T e particular construction above described is claimed in my said application No. 447,240, and is not claimed herein, but isshown and described to enable a clearer understanding of the instrument when constructed, as will now be described.

In Fig. 2 the instrument is constructed so thatl the vapor pressures. produced by the wet and dry bulb temperatures act in direct opposition on the regulating device, thereby adapting the instrument to maintain a constant differeneebetween the wet and dry bulb temperatures, which gives a varying relative humidity-with fluctuations in temperature. In said Fig. 2, A represents the vapor generating tube surrounded by vthe wetted wick C; B the other generating tube and D and E the diaphragms or mo- ,tors connected respectively to the generating tubes A and B. The motors act in opposition on a regulating disk or device F which slides in a slottedl stationary -tube f and has a threaded engagement with an adjusting screw f* which has-a threaded engagement of opposite pitch with a second disk f also arranged to slide in the slotted tubef. H represents the'valve for governingthe flow of compressed -air to and from the humidity controlling means (not shown).

A spring O arranged in the slotted tube" f? opposes lthe movement of the regulating disk F by the motor E', and the tension of this spring can be altered to obtain various constant differences between the wet and dry bulb temperatures by adjusting the screw f.

' S0 long as the pressure ot' the motor E balances that' of the other motor D and spring O, the position of the valve I-I will not be affected, but unbalanced pressures acting on the regulating device F will effect a regulating action of the valve so as to maintain the desired constant diilerence between the wet and dry bulb temperatures ot the air.

a tures.

Itiwill be noted that the spring 0,'which vapor pressure of the dry bulbl generator- B opposes both the Vapor pressure of the wet bulb generator A and also the pressure of the spring O, so that the regulator can be readily set, by adjusting the tension of the spring O, to operate in accordance with various dierences between the wet and dry temperatures, and thereby' 'Ve desired predetermined humfidities at different tempera- I claim as my invention: v l. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a valve operable to control humidity; of thermoresponsive elements independently influenced by diierent temperatures, said elements being arranged and operating differentially due to changes in temperature affecting them to produce pressures acting inl opposition to each other upon said valve, and a motor acting. on said valve supplementarily with one of said thermoresponsive elements and in opposition to the other thermoresponsive element, whereby the op- `eration of said valve is dependent upon the relation existing between said different temperatures.

2. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a Valve operable to control humidity; of thermoresponsive elements independently iniluenced respectively by the wet and dry bulb temperatures' of the air, said elements being arranged and operating differentially due to changes in temperature affecting them to produce yielding pressures acting y in opposition to each other upon said Valve,

and a' motor acting on said valve supplementarily to the pressure of said wet bulb thermoresponsive element and in opposition to the'pressure of said dry bulb thermorel sponsive element, whereby the operation of said valve is dependent upon the relation existing between said diierent temperatures.

3. In a humidity regulator, the combina-- tion with a valve operable to control humidity; of thermoresponsive elements independently influenced by the wet and dry bulb temperatures of the air, said elements being arranged and operatingdiiierentially due to changes in temperature aecting them to produce yielding pressures acting `in opposition to each other upon said valve, and a spring acting on said valve supplementarily to one of said thermoresponsive elements and in opposition to the other thermoresponsive element, whereby the operation of saidvalve isv dependent upon the relation existing between said different temperatures.

the vapor pressure of, said wetfbulb generator and in opposition to the pressure of said dry bulb generator, whereby the-operation of said' valve is dependent upon the relation existing between said different temperatures.

5. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a valve operable to control humidity; of vapor generators independently influenced by the wet and dry bulb temperatures of the air, and pressure actuated mea-ns for causing the dierent Vapor pressures produced by said generators to act yieldingly in opposition upon said Valve, a motor acting on said valve supplementarily tothe Vapor pressure of said wet bulb generator and inopposition to the pressure of said dry.. bulb generator, whereby the operation of said valve is dependent upon the relation existing between said different temperatures, and 'means for Varying the effect of said motor on said Valve. c

6. In a humidity regulator, the combination with av Valve operable to control humidity; of vapor generators independently influenced by the wet and dry bulb temperatures of the air, and pressure actuated means for causing the different vapor pressures produced by said generators to act yieldingly in opposition upon upon said Valve, a spring acting on said Valve supplementarily to the Vapor pressure of said wet bulb generator and in opposition t0 the pressure of said dry bulb generator, Vwhereby the operation of said valve is dependent upon the relation existing between said different temperatures, and means vfor regulating the pressure of said spring. i

7. In a humidity regulator, the combination with a valve operable to control the humidity; of avmovable disk and connections Jfor actuating said valve, vapor .generators independently influenced by the wet and dry bulb temperatures'of the air, fluid pressure motors connected to said'generators and arranged to cause the different vapor ypressures produced by said generators to 4. In a humidity regulator, the combinai bulb temperatures,'and means for regulating l the pressure of said spring.

WILLIS I-I. CARRIER. 

